Getting back on track for 2013 and beyond

debtfreewannabe321

Will you be sticking around the dfw boards or toddling off to the MFW boards?? Let us know so we can stalk you over there if you go congratulations on the new house :T

brizzledfw

hello stranger!! Hows it going?! Need to hear all about the house and baby (well toddler ) goings on

kerri_dfw

One more month and I'll be back in work looking forward to it, although I don't think the little lady is going to like going to nursery very much and oh my that's a HUGE expense. I'm just about to sit down and work out what our monthly expenses are going to be if we take into account things like saving for a holiday for next year, xmas & birthday presents etc. OH is already fretting that he won't have very much money, and it's going to reduce further if we put in annual spends...but at least we won't be going into debt

I'm going to start a new diary, although which board I'll be on I'm not quite sure yet. I've got £10,000 to pay my Dad back, so technically in debt still so might stick around here if you'll all still have me I've also got to personally save as much as possible to go towards a deposit for our remortgage as OH paid £17000 more than me for the deposit for the house so I'd like to reduce our monthly payments when we remortgage in 2 years time.

Have just updated my signature with the amount we currently owe on the mortgage after 3 payments, this is based on us keeping the full 27 year term. Hoping to knock about 10 years off this, fingers crossed.

Right, off to work out our household budget then knock up this weeks meal plan. Ooh have also asked OH to make me a meal plan & grocery list app so I can list everything in our pantry and easily create shopping lists & menus from it. He's agreed

kerri_dfw

Morning! Finances all in order now my last SMP has been paid in. We've got £654.37 left in our joint account for the month to spend on petrol, cat food and groceries plus the deposit for childcare that starts next month.
I've got £127 personal money to spend which seems really small, however I went shopping this past weekend so borrowed from the joint account and had to return those funds before I started with this months budget. I also have set aside my £44 for yoga in October.
I've updated the app on my phone and going to keep track of everything I spend this month when money is low in the hope of carrying it on when I've got more free cash next month. I'm going to see a nursery on Friday, but hoping the outlay for the first month will come out on the first day rather than trying to find the cash in advance. Otherwise I'm going to have to ask OH for additional funds.

I've made a meal plan for the week:
- Taco filling (slow cooker)
- Roast dinner
- Spag bol
- Cottage Pie
- Stir fry
- Veggie fingers, chips, peas

and I'm off to the shops shortly to top up with things we need. I've tried to make the list from what's already in the cupboards so the spending *should* be minimal. I say this every week and come away £50-£60 lighter!!! How has food shopping become so expensive?

Right, off to feed the little munchkin before we head out for the day.

debtfreewannabe321

:hello: Hi Kerri

Lovely to "see" you glad to hear everything is going well! Food shopping is very expensive these days isn't it! I've turned into my mother as the other day I was saying to my eldest, "well when you were a baby I could get a whole shopping trolley full of food for less than £50 " :rotfl: As soon as I said it I caught myself from saying anymore, but it was too late! DS1 turned round and told me that I sounded just like my mum :rotfl:

Your meal plan sounds similar to mine now the colder weather has started!

Wowsers at the mortgage! But i've no doubt that you can get the debt paid off and reduce the term on the mortgage look forward to seeing your updates

kerri_dfw

Tell me about it, our food shop came in at £49.63 and that was just a top-up shop!!! I really need to get the veg patches sorted so we can save some £££ on the food. I know the garden takes work, but boy does it pay off.

I'm currently hiding from the washing machine, I decided in my infinite wisdom that it needed an intensive clean. I was correct it did, however it's now flashing an error to say that the filter is blocked. Going to have to get OH to look at it, thankfully I've cooked dinner (tacos) even though it's his night to cook so that should soften the blow. Whoops!

kerri_dfw

We've got OH's family coming for a last minute visit this weekend. His auntie is over from America, so his other Auntie and his Dad are going to come and visit us. They'll be staying over, so not sure whether we'll be cooking for them or going out for dinner. I think he'll have to pay if we go out for dinner as we don't have the budget for it.

brizzledfw

Have a good eve either way

kerri_dfw

Thanks Brizzle, I'm back at work on the 3rd November but if you're around before then would be lovely to meet up and catch up x

brizzledfw

Yes indeedy..work is still full on so still trying to find a time..but it WILL happen

Xx